Gavin, I love my Elite 4x Ice Machine. It does a lot of things the regular flashers can't do, and also flashes (Not as well as the Vexilars) but I spend more ...more time watching the bottom sonar anyways. The regular sonar screen is always spot on and if you buy the regular transducer you can mount it on a kayak no problem.
I like flashers. Mine is a Marcum that I bought about 10 years ago for $299. It has served me very well. I have also used Vexilars and Humminbirds, and they are ...more all great units.
I modified my old boat fish finder (black and white eagle cuda) attached it to a milk crate (which carries stuff in my sled) and put a float on the transducer. ...more It gets the job done very well! lets me see if and where fish are in the column and if they are following it or whatever.